Elevated carrier.



J. C. FITZGERALD.

ELEVATED CARRIER. APPLICATION FILED r213. 24, 1910.

985,577, Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

W I 8 5" .2547 6 w/arx rm: NORRIS PETERS co, wasumcrarv, o c.

I. G. FITZGERALD. ELEVATED CARRIER. APPLIOATION FILED IEB. 24, 1910.

5,5?? Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

THE NORRIS PETERS co, wAsHmcraN', ac.

J. G. FITZGERALD.

ELEVATED CARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED $1113.24, 1910.

Batnted Feb. 28, 1911. I

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W W V n I 7eremfa 71 C em'Zd THE NORRIS PETERS 00., WASHINGVTON, n. c.

' EN @FFIQ JEREMIAH C. FITZGERALD, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TOSMITH MANUFAC- TURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS.

ELEVATED CARRIER.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JEREMIAH C. Frrz- GERALD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at De Kalb, in the county of Dekalb and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in ElevatedCarriers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in conveying or carryingapparatus and particularly to those adapted for use in connection withstables or barns for carrying the litter therefrom and dumping the sameat suitable distant points outside of the stable or barn, and itconsists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangementand operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter morefully set forth and specificially claimed.

The principal object of the invention is to improve the construction ofcarriers of the character above indicated and to embody therein simpleand efficientmeans for quickly lowering the box or receptacle of thecarrier to permit it to be loaded and then for easily raising the box orreceptacle without the loss of time and to such an eleation as to be outof the way in its travel of obstructions such as water-tanks, pigpens,fences, and the like.

J'Trnother object of the invention is to provide self-acting means forreleasing the box or receptacle of the carrier at a predeten mined pointso that it will automatically dump its load.

Still another object, is to provide safety means for holding the wheelsof the carrier on the track, which shall be of such con struction as tooffer no interference with the trip as the carrier passes the same.

Other obiects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in thesubjoined description and explanation.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my inventionpertains, to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is a view inside elevation of a carrier embodying the invention showing it mountedon a portion of an elevated track equipped with a tripping device andillus-' trating the box of the carrier in its lowered position, and alsoshowing one s1de of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 24, 1910.

Patented Feb. 28, 1911.

Serial No. 545,558.

bail-casing and the operating wheel for raising and lowering the box,removed; Fig. 2, is an end view in elevation of the box of the carriershowing the means for holding it in its upright position, yet so that itcan be released for dumping; Fig. 3, is a view in side elevation of likeparts, shown in Fig. 1, showing the box in its elevated position and thelocking mechanism therefor released, to permit the box to automaticallydump its load; Fig. 4, is a fragmental perspective view of a portion ofthe box showing one of the end brackets therefor secured in place; Fig.5, is a detached perspective view of one of the locking members orhinges for the ends of the box; Fig. 6, is a similar view of a portionof the bail and one of the extensions thereon. used for releasing thelocking members for the box; Fig. 7. is a side view of a portion of thebail with one of the wheel-carrying uprights or hangers mounted thereon,and showing the safety guard for holding the wheel on the track; Fig. 8,is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 88 of Fig. 3, lookingin the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 9, is a detachedperspective view of one of the uprights or hangers for the wheels of thecarrier; Fig. 10, is a side view thereof; Fig. 11, is a detached.perspective view of one of the safety guards for holding the carrier onthe track: Fig. 12, is an enlarged view in side elevation of a portionof the trip used for releasing the locking dogs carried by the bailmembers; Fig. 18, is an end view thereof; Fig. 14, is a cross-sectionalview of the trip; Fig. 15, is a view in side elevation of the operatingwheel for raising and lowering the box, showing the pawl and braketherefor; Fig. 16, is a side view of a portion of the bail,

' and one of the bail extensions thereon showing a modification in themeans for releasing said extension from the engaging means on thereceptacle; and Fig. 17, is a perspective view of a portion of one ofthe operating rods for actuating one of the bail extensions.

Like numerals of reference, refer to corresponding parts throughout thedifferent views of the drawings.

The reference numeral 20, designates a portion of an elevated trackwhich may be a flexible rod, cable or other kind of track, and supportedin any suitable manner for the travel of grooved wheels 21, of thecarrier, each of which is ournaled 011 the upper portion of an uprightor hanger 22, having at its lower end an off-set or horizontallydisposed base 23, which is provided on its lower surface with adepending pintle 24.,

having a head 25, as is clearly shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10, of thedrawings. Each of the uprights or hangers 22,is provided at its upperend with a pin 27, to loosely engage the upper end of a dependingarm-28, which is normally located between parallel flanges 29, withwhich each of the uprights 22, is provided on one of its surfaces. Thearm 28, is provided at its upper end with a lateral extension 30, havingan opening therein of sufficient size to receive the pin 27, on theupright, and to permit of some play of said arm. Extended horizontallythrough suitable openings in each of the uprights 22,

cured to the arms 28, by means of keys 34,

so as to move therewith, but are loosely located in the openings in theuprights therefor.

Mounted on the lower end of one of the uprights 22, or hangers is a bailmember which is designated as a whole by the reference numeral 35, andconsists of two hollow or channeled pieces 36, counterparts of oneanother, but secured together to form substantially an angular-shapedfigure in outlines. Mounted on the lower portion of the other upright orhanger 22, is another bail member, which is designated as a whole by thenumeral 37, and consists of two hollow or channeled pieces 38,counterparts of one another, each of which is provided with a dependingcasing portion 39, also counterparts of one another. The pieces 38, ofthe bail member 37, as well as the casing portions 39, thereof, aresecured together, and also form substantially an angular-shaped figurein outlines. Each of the bail members 35, and 37, is provided on itsupper portion with an upward hollow extension 40, each having in itsupper end an opening 4L1, for the reception of the pint-le 24, on thebase 23, of the upright or hanger. Each of the extensions 40, isprovided on its inner surface with inwardly and oppositely disposedledges 12, located just below the head 25, on the pintel 2 1, for thesupport of flat springs 43, one of which is located on each side of theflattened portion 26, of the head 25, and against the side walls of theextensions 40, so that they will act on the head 25, to normally holdits flattened side edges in alinement with the sides of the extension40, as well as with the sides of the members 35, and 37, of the bail,yet in such a manner as to permit of a somewhat swiveled movement of theuprights in the bail members, which are located in alinement with oneanother under and in parallelism with the track 20, and have theiradjacent ends pivotally connected together. Each of the members 35, and37, of the bail, is provided near its inner end with an uprightextension stat, on which are pivotally mounted a pair of locking dogs45, and as, the lower portion of' the inner ends of which are adapted torest on an upright lug 17, with which one of the members 35, or 37, isprovided on its upper surface and to contact one with the other, as isclearly shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, thus holding the bail members35, and 37, in their raised and locked positions. The lower portion ofeach of the members 35, and 37, is equipped with a downward extension18, which preferably has its lower end beveled and is used fordisplacing catches 4L9, one of which is pivotally mounted on the bracket50, secured to each end of the box or receptacle 51 of the carrier.

As is clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 1, of the drawings each of thebrackets 50, is provided at its lower portion with a headed" bolt 52,and at its upper portion with an outwardly extended flange having a recess 54, therein, to one side of which recess the catch 49, is pivotallysecured to the said flange. Loosely mounted on each of the bolts 52, isthe lower member 55, of a locking hinge which may have hinged to itsupper portion another member 56, which is provided with laterallydisposed projections 57, to act as stops and prevent the locking hingesbeing drawn into the hollow or channeled members of the bail.

Mounted on a suitable shaft 58, transversely journaled in the casingportion 39, of the bail member 37, is an operating wheel 59, which hason its inner periphery a series of recesses 60, to engage a gravity pawl61, which is pivotally secured to the outer surface of the casing 39,and has extended therefrom, a brake-shoe 62, to which a cord 63, orchain may be attached and which shoe may be drawn into contact 'ith theinner periphcry of the wheel 59, so as to retard its movement while thepawl 61, will prevent its rotation in but one direction. The wheel 59,is preferably provided with a peripheral groove for the reception of achain 64, located in said groove and hanging down wardly from the wheelfor the purpose of being in easy reach and for operating the same.Mounted on the shaft 58, within the casing 39, is a pinion 65, whichmeshes with a pinion 66, journaled in the casing, on the shaft of whichlatter pinion is another pinion or spur-gear 67, which in turn mesheswith two other spur-gears 68, and 69, journaled in the casing and on theshafts of which are mounted sprocket wheels 70, and 71, respectively.Located in the channels of the bail members 35, and 37, is a sprocketchain 72, which is extended over pulleys 7 3, journaled in said members,and has its ends connected to the upper members 56, of the lockinghinges for the box.

As is clearly shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, the chain 72, is engagedby the sprocket wheels 70, and 71., so that when the operating wheel 59,is turned in the proper direction, said sprocket wheels through themedium of the gearing which connects them with the shaft 58, of theoperating wheel, will be turned in the proper direction to raise orlower the box of the carrier. lVhen the box is raised from the positionshown in Fig. 1, to that illustrated in Fig. 3, it will be understoodthat the extensions 48, on the lower portion of the bail members 35, and37, will turn the pivoted catches 2L9, to one side of the recesses 54.,in the brackets 50, on the ends of the box, and that the said extensionswill be disposed on the outer sur face of the locking hinges and willhold them in locked relation with said brackets until one of the lockingdogs is depressed at its outer end by means of a trip mounted at asuitable point on the track, in which operation it is evident that thelower inner portions of the dogs 45, and 46, will be dis engaged andthat the pivotally connected or adjacent ends of the bail members 35,and 37, will be depressed to about the positions shown in Fig. 3, inwhich operation the extensions 48, will be moved outwardly from thebrackets 50, and cause the locking hinges to be removed from therecesses 54, in the end brackets, thereby allowing the box 51, to turnon its pivots 52, and dump its load.

lVhile any suitable tripping device may be employed, for releasing thelocking dogs 45, and 46, yet a trip of the construction I shown in Figs.1, 3, 12, to 14, inclusive, is by preference employed, and said trip consists of a bar 75, provided with a vertical opening 76, and having oneach side of said opening an upright extension 77, each of which isprovided with a groove 7 8, in its upper surface to receive the lowersurface of the track. Looped over the track 20, is a sheet metal clip79, which has its lower ends overlapping one another and provided withan opening to receive a bolt 80, which is extended through said openingsand the opening 76, in the bar, and used for se curing the overlappedportions of the trip to the upper surface of the bar. Pivotallyconnected to one of the upright portions 77, of the trip, is an arm 81,which is preferably provided at its upper end with prongs 82, to stridethe upright 77, and has journaled in its lower portion a roller 83, tocontact with I I l l r l l I l i the locking dogs of the carrier. Byreference to FigsQlQ, and 13, it will be observed that the arm 81, willhave a restricted pivotal movement, that is to say, it cannot be movedin one direction beyond a vertical line on account of the bottom of therecess 8%, between the prongs 82, contacting with the lower portion ofthe bar 75, yet will be free to move in the other direction. Thus itwill be seen that when the carrier is loaded and travels outwardlytoward the dumping point, the roller 83, on the arm 81, of the trip,will be in position to actuate the dogs of the carrier, but after thecarrier has dumped its load, and is on its return trip, the wheel andarm of the tripping device will be thrown upwardly so as not to obstructthe return of the car. As the safety guards 32, are loosely mounted inthe uprights 22, and are carried by the loosely held arms 28, it isapparent that as the carrier passes the tripping device, one of thecurved ends of the guards will strike one of the uprights 77, of saiddevice and thus force the guards to about the positions shown by dottedlines in Fig. 8, of the drawings, which will permit them to pass thetripping device without hindrance, but as soon as the pressure isremoved from the guards, they will by reason of the gravity of the arms28, be moved back to their normal positions directly under the cable ortrack, thus preventing the wheels jumping off the same, or becomingdisplaced. By loosely connecting the hangers 22, to the extensions 40,on the bail members 35, and 37, and employing the springs 4-3, to co-actwith the heads 25, on the pintles 21-, of the hangers, it is manifestthat a slightly swiveled movement will be afforded each of the hangers,thus permitting the carrier to turn curves and so that when it passesonto the straight track, the hangers and wheels will be brought intoperfect alinement.

From the above description of my improvements, it will be understoodthat the improved carrier constructed according to my invention, is ofan extremely simple and inexpensive nature, and it will also be evidentfrom the above description, that the device is susceptible ofconsiderable modification without material departure from the principlesand spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not desire to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangen'ient ofthe several parts of the device as herein set forth in carrying out myinvention in practice.

In Fig. 1G, is shown a modification in the means for operating the bailextensions which engage the ends of the receptacle 51, which consists ofa bail member 35*, which may be hollow and has extended into its upperportion a trigger 85, which is pivoted on the bail member and is adaptedto contact with a suitable tripping device on the track as the carriertravels back and forth thereon. Fulcrumed on the member 35, at the upperportion of the downturned part at each end of said member is abell-crank-lever to one arm 86, of which is secured a rod 87, which isengaged by the trigger 85, so as to be moved longitudinally in eitherdirection. Pivot-ally connected to the other arm 88, of saidbell-crank-lever, is a rod 89, which extends downwardly and is pivotallyconnected by means of a link 90, to the lower portion of the bailmember. The rod or bar 89, has near its lower portion an arm 91, whichis provided with a pin 92, to engage the support 93, of the upper member56, of the bail extension, the other member 55, of which is secured onthe pivot 52, of the receptacle as in the other construction. IVhen thismodified construction is employed, it will be understood that thesupport 93, for the bail extensions may be supported in any suitablemanner above the pin 92, and that when the trigger is mox'ed in eitherdirection, the hinged or jointed members 56, and 55, forming the bailextensions will be thrown out of engagement with theengaging means onthe ends of the receptacle, thus permitting the same to turn on itspivots and empty its contents.

Having thus fully described my inven tion what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters-Patent is 1. In an elevated carrier, thecombination with a bail having on its upper portion centrally dividedprojections having cavities therein, of a receptacle supported thereby,upwardly extended hangers mounted at their lower ends for rotationwithin the cavities of said projections, a wheel journaled on each ofsaid hangers, and a pair of springs located in the cavity of eachprojection to actuate said hangers.

In an elevated carrier, the combination with a bail having hollow andapertured extensions on its upper portion, a receptacle supported by thebail, upwardly extended hangers having their lower portions mounted forrotation in said extensions, a spring located in the cavity of eachextension to actuate the hangers, and a wheel journaled on the upperportion of each hanger.

3. In an elevated carrier, the combination wit-h a bail having hollowand apertured extensions on its upper portion, a receptacle supported bythe bail, upwardly extended hangers each having on its lower end apintle provided with a head located in the apertures and cavitiesrespectively of said extensions, a spring in each of said extensions andapplied to said heads to actuate the hangers, and a wheel journaled oneach of the hangers.

a. The combination with an elevated track, of an upwardly extendedhanger, a

wheel journaled thereon, and a guard pivotally mounted on the hangerabove the journal of said wheel and extended below the track.

5. The combination wit-h an elevated track, of an upwardly extendedhanger, a depending arm pivotally connected to the upper portion of thehanger, a wheel j0ur naled on the hanger above the track, and a guardhaving a stem extended through the hanger below the track and secured tosaid arm.

6. The combination with an elevated track, of an upwardly extendedhanger, a depending arm movably connected to the upper portion of thehanger, a horizontally disposed guard having curved end portions andprovided with a stem extended through the hanger below thetrack andsecured to said arm, and a wheel journaled on the hanger above thetrack.

7. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of abail or frame, a receptacle supported thereby, an upwardly extendedhanger mounted on the bail or frame, a wheel journaled on the hangerabove the track, a guard loosely mounted on the hanger below the track,and means to normally hold the guard directly beneath the track but tope mit of its lateral movement.

8. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of abail or frame, a. receptacle supported thereby, upwardly extendedhangers mounted for rotation on the bail or frame, a wheel ournaled oneach of the hangers above the track, and a guard pivotally mounted oneach hanger above the journal of its wheel and extended underneath thetrack and having a weight to normally hold it directly beneath the trackbut to permit of limited lateral movement.

9. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of abail or frame, a receptacle supported thereby, upwardly extended hangersmounted for rotation on the bail or frame, a wheel journaled on eachhanger above the track, a depending arm movably connected to each of thehangers, and a. guard having a stem extended through each of the hangersbelow the track and secured to said arms.

10. In an elevated carrier, the combination with a wheeled bail or framehaving bail extensions,- of a receptacle supported on said extensionsfor vertical as well as pivotal movement, means for locking the ends ofthe receptacle, and means for spreading the bail extensions.

11. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of awheeled bail or frame mounted thereon, a receptacle pivotally connectedat each end near its bottom to the bail, a recessed project-ion at eachend of the receptacle and near its top, means to engage the bail withsaid recessed projections, and means to automatically disengage thesame.

12. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of atrip mounted thereon at a suitable point, a wheeled bail or framemounted on the track and having bail extensions, a receptacle supportedfor vertical as well as pivotal movement on the bail extensions, meansfor raising and lowering the receptacle, means for locking its ends, andmeans to contact with the trip and for spreading the bail extensions andunlocking said ends when the receptacle has been raised and has reacheda predetermined point on the track.

13. In an elevated. carrier, the combination with an elevated track, ofa trip mounted thereon at a suitable point, a wheeled bail or frameconsisting of two alined members pivotally connected together at theiradjacent ends and mounted on the track, interlocking dogs pivoted on theupper portion of said members to hold the same in their raised positionsand adapted to contact with the trip for releasing the same, areceptacle supported for vertical as well as pivotal movement on thebail, means for raising and lowering the receptacle, means for lockingits'cnds, and means for unlocking said ends when the receptacle israised and one of said dogs has been depressed by the trip.

14. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of atrip mounted thereon at a suitable point, a wheeled bail or frameconsisting of two alined members pivotally connected together at theiradjacent ends and mounted on the track, interlocking dogs pivoted on theupper portion of said members to hold the same in their raised positionsand adapted to contact with the trip for releasing the same, of areceptacle having at each of its ends an engaging device, a connectioncarried by the bail and having its ends pivotally connected to the endsof the receptacle and adapted to engage said engaging devices, means onthe bail to operate said connection for the purpose of raising andlowering the receptacle, means on the lower portion of the bail torelease the connection from said engaging devices when the receptacle isin its raised position and one of the interlocking dogs has beendepressed by the trip.

15. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of adepending trip mounted thereon a wheeled bail or frame consisting of twoalined members pivotally connected together at their acent ends andmounted on the track, interlocking dogs pivoted on the upper portion ofsaid members to hold the same in their raised positions and adapted tocontact with the trip for releasing the same, a flexible support movablycarried by the bail and having its ends extended through the lower endsthereof, a receptacle pivotally secured to the ends of the support, abracket secured on each end of said receptacle and having a recess inits upper portion to engage parts of the sup port, a catch pivoted oneach of the brackets to normally engage said portions of the sup port,means on the bail for raising and lowering the receptacle, andextensions on the lower portion of the bail to displace the said catcheswhen the receptacle is raised and to release the parts of the supportfrom said recesses when one of the locking dogs has been depressed bythe trip.

16. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of adepending trip mounted thereon, a wheeled bail or frame consisting oftwo alined members pivotally connected together at their adjacent endsand mounted on the track, interlocking dogs pivoted on said members tohold the same in their raised positions and adapted to contact with thetrip, a connection movably carried by the bail, a locking hinge on eachend of said connection, a receptacle pivotally connected to the lowerportion of the lower member of each hinge, a bracket secured on each endof said receptacle and having a recess in its upper portion to engagethe lower members ot said hinges, a catch pivoted on each of thebrackets to normally engage said lower members of the hinges, means onthe bail engaging the connection for raising and lowering thereceptacle, and extensions on the lower portion of the bail to displacethe said catches when the receptacle is raised and to release the lowermembers of the locking hinges from said recesses when one of the lockingdogs has been depressed by the trip.

17. In an elevated carrier, the combination with an elevated track, of adepending trip mounted thereon at a suitable point, a wheeled bail orframe consisting of two alined members pivotally connected to gether attheir adjacent ends, a receptacle supported by the bail or frame, andinterlocking dogs pivotally mounted on the bail members near theiradjacent ends for holding said ends in their raised position until thelocking dogs are disengaged by the trip.

18. In an elevated carrier, the combina tion with a suitably supportedreceptacle, of a bracket secured on each of its ends and having a recessin its upper portion, a jointed bail extension loosely secured at itslower end to each of said brackets, and means to hold said extensions inengagement with the brackets.

19. In an elevated carrier, the combina tion with a suitably supportedreceptacle, of a bracket secured on each of its ends and having a recessin its upper portion, a j ointed bail extension pivotally secured at itslower end to each of said brackets, means to hold said extensions inengagement with the recesses of said brackets, and means to spread theextensions from said recesses.

20. In an elevated carrier, the combination with the bail or framethereof, of an opalternately engage the inner periphery of the Wheel.

21. In an elevated carrier, the combina tion with the bail or framethereof, of an operating-wheel journaled thereon and having recesses inits inner periphery, a pawl and brake-shoe pivotally supported near thewheel to move in unison, the pawl being heavier than the brake-shoe, andmeans to cause the brake-shoe to contact with the wheel.

22. A tripping device for elevated carriers, consisting of a bar havingon its upper surface a pair of spaced apart extensions to rest againstthe lower portion of the track, a clip looped over the track and havingits lower portion secured to the upper surface of the bar between saidextensions thereon, a depending arm pivoted to one of said extensions,and a roller journaled on the lower end of said arm.

23. A tripping device for elevated carriers, consisting of a bar havingon its upper surface a pair of spaced apart extensions to rest againstthe lower portion of the track, a clip looped over the track and havingits lower portion secured to the upper surface of the bar between thesaid extensions thereon, a depending arm pivoted for restricted movementon the body of the tripping device, and a roller journaled on the lowerend of said arm.

2 In an elevated carrier, the combination with a suitably supportedreceptacle having engaging means at each of its ends, of jointed bailextensions pivotally secured to the ends of the receptacle and adaptedto engage said engaging means thereon, and means for spreading the bailextensions to disengage the same from said engaging means when it isdesired that the receptacle shall dump its contents.

25. In an elevated carrier, the combination with a suitably supportedreceptacle having engaging means at each of its ends,

of extensible jointed bail extensions pivotally secured to the ends ofthe receptacle and adapted to engage said engaging means thereon, andmeans for spreading the bail extensions to disengage the same from saidengaging means when it is desired that the receptacle shall dump itscontents.

JEREMIAH C. FITZGERALD.

Witnesses:

J. E. HANSEN, CHAS. C. TILLMAN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

